Derby V Charlton at Pride Park Stadium : Match Preview

17 September 2012 04:31

Coutts in Rams frame
Midfielder Paul Coutts is on course to return to the Derby squad for the visit of Charlton.
Coutts was at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday to watch the Rams lose 1-0 against Huddersfield but the 24-year-old summer signing from Preston was not fit enough to be involved following a bout of flu.
USA Under-23 international Conor Doyle replaced Coutts on the right-hand side.
Having recovered sufficiently over the weekend, Coutts was back in training with the first-team squad on Monday morning ahead of the Charlton game.
"We're hopeful Paul will be back in the fold on Tuesday night having had the weekend to regain his strength," manager Nigel Clough told the club's official website. "We missed him at the weekend and as long as he doesn't feel any affects from the cold over the next 24 hours or so, he will be back in the squad. In the early games we've seen what he brings to the team and he's settled in really well, as have the rest of the new lads."
Defenders Jake Buxton, Kieron Freeman and Valentin Gjokaj, midfielder Michael Jacobs and forwards Nathan Tyson and Theo Robinson were all on the bench at Huddersfield are are options for Clough should he wish to make any changes to his starting XI.
Charlton will be without defender Rhoys Wiggins.
The left-back fractured two metatarsals during the opening stages of Friday night's 1-0 defeat by south London rivals Crystal Palace and could be out for two months.
Lawrie Wilson came on for Wiggins against Palace and went to right-back with Chris Solly moving to the opposite flank, but boss Chris Powell could opt to recall specialist left-back Cedric Evina at Pride Park.
Centre-half Matt Taylor is also out with a foot injury and midfielder Andy Hughes remains sidelined by an Achilles problem, although he is back in training.
Striker Ricardo Fuller is pushing to make his full debut after two appearances as a substitute since his release from Barclays Premier League club Stoke.